July 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, July 31st, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/31/2014
Imaginative ink and watercolor cover art for the original 1999 Bloomsbury edition of J.K. Rowling's third book, ''Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban,'' in the series that forever changed children's literature. This third draft ''rough'' - nearing the final design - is signed by British artist Cliff Wright, who first brought many of Rowling's concepts and characters to life for the series. Watercolor and ink drawing depicts Harry on the legendary Hippogriff beast, endearingly called Buckbeak. Here, Wright depicts the climactic scene in the book when Harry Potter and Hermione Granger go back in time, flying on Buckbeak through the night's sky to save Sirius Black from a tower where he is imprisoned, sending him away to freedom on Buckbeak's back. Of illustrating the Harry Potter series, Wright has said, ''...a passage from the book was suggested and I began to draw ideas working closely with the publisher. So as to retain as much vitality as possible in the final watercolour painting I only produce small-scale quick pencil/pen sketches as roughs. Time is spent on character and composition but not yet on execution, so my roughs are very simple.'' This draft shows maturation in the draft process, with colors and design almost entirely fleshed out. Illustration measures 5.5'' x 5'' on a standard-sized sheet of paper and is signed ''Cliff Wright'' at lower right, with additional handwritten comments in margins noting, ''trainers'' and ''Emma / Changes as requested. Cliff''. Near fine condition. Recently sold for 7500 GBP as lot 171 in Sotheby's 10 July 2012 sale.
Original Artwork for the Cover of ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' -- Depicting Harry Riding the Mythical Creature, Buckbeak, Under the Moonlight -- Signed by Artist Cliff Wright
Click above for larger image.